John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu

Major-General John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu, (1690 – 5 July 1749), styled Viscount Monthermer until 1705 and Marquess of Monthermer between 1705 and 1709, was a British Army officer, courtier and the fifth Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of Freemasonry.

Life Montagu was born in 1690. He received private tuition as a child and also went on a grand tour of Italy and France with Pierre Sylvestre in his formative years. In 1735, he was appointed a Major general in the British Army.

Montagu is said to have once dunked the political philosopher Montesquieu in a tub of cold water as a joke. Montagu also commissioned William Hogarth to portray Chief Justice John Willes unflatteringly in a number of cartoons series Before and After (Hogarth) in which lusty amoral rakes seduce women. The Bottle Conjuror was a famous hoax which was attributed to Montagu.

Montagu's country place, Boughton House, Northamptonshire, was laid out by him as a miniature Versailles, and now belonging to the Buccleuch family. He owned a library in the house, which included a copy of the 16th century Wriothesley Garter book.

After his death, his town residence, Montagu House, Bloomsbury, on the present site of the British Museum, John (1706–1711) George (died in infancy) Lady Mary Montagu (c. 1711/1712 – 1 May 1775). Married George Brudenell, 4th Earl of Cardigan, later Duke of Montagu (had issue). Edward (27 December 1725 – May 1727)

Succession

As none of Montagu's sons survived him, his titles became extinct upon his death in 1749. His estates were inherited by his daughter Mary, whose husband, George Brudenell, 4th Earl of Cardigan assumed the name and arms of Montagu, and in 1766 was created 1st Duke of Montagu (second creation). In 1790 this second creation dukedom of Montagu also became extinct; his only son (who had been created Baron Montagu of Boughton) having predeceased him. His daughter Elizabeth married Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch, 5th Duke of Queensberry who thus acquired all the unentailed property of the Dukes of Montagu.